Work holder and router carriage



Nov. 27, 1962 E. A. BOOKHART WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 51, 1960 Edward A. Bookharf IN VEN TOR.

I a M 5 BY gym/4; WW

Nov. 27, 1962 WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE Filed Aug. 31, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 3 I04 Ila Edward A. Boakharr IN VENTOR.

E. A. BOOKHART 3,065,776

1962 E. A. BOOKHART WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE 4 Sheets-Sheep 4Filed Aug. 31, 1960 Fig. 9

ooooooooo' Edward A. Boo/(barf 1 N VEN TOR.

United States Patent fiiee 3,%5,776 Patented Nov. 2?, 1962 3,065,776WGRK HQLDER AND RGUTER CARlRl'z-kGE Edward A. Bookhart, 2314 5. Alice,Sioux Qity, liowa Filed Aug. 31, I960, Ser. No. 53,277 7 Claims. (ill. Ml-1136) The present invention generally relates to a carriage for arouter and includes means for holding a panel in position while therouter forms grooves therein for purposes of simulating a brick or tileWall or a similar type of block wall construction.

In many instances, it is desirable to have the appearance of a brick,tile or other block wall without actually employing bricks, tiles orbuilding blocks. In situations of this nature, panelling is employedwhich has been ornamented to simulate the desired Wall surface and isplaced in position thus forming a wall surface which simulates an actualbrick wall, tile wall or building block wall. Therefore, it is theprimary object of the present invention to provide an assembly whichretains the panels in position and also provides means for carrying therouter in relation to the panel for forming grooves at regular desiredintervals on the panel for simulating the mortar joints between bricks,tiles, building blocks or the like thereby rendering the construction ofsimulated panels of this nature quite economical and efficient.

The present invention has for a major object thereof, the provision ofintermittent grooves in the work panel to actually simulate the mortarjoints between adjacent building blocks which are normally in staggeredrelation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a routercarriage which has intermittent working cycles during continuousmovement of the router in relation to the panel due to the particularconstruction of the router carriage.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a router carriagewhich may be locked securely in position during operation thereof andwhich may be manually adjusted for orientating the grooves in the panelsat the desired intervals.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of arouter carriage which is simple in construction, rugged and longlasting, quite effective for its particular purposes and generallyinexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the router carriage and Work holder of thepresent invention with portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the work holder and router carriage;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating thestructural details of the work holder and carriage;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 1 illustrating thestructural details of the mechanism for moving the routercarriagetransversely of the work;

' FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the router construction illustratingits relationship to the driving mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the router carriage;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the router carriage taken fromthe driving side thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the router carriage illustratingthe guides for the carriage in section;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of one side of the work holder and guidemechanism for the router carriage;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed view illustrating the manner of mounting thestationary chain to the guide rails;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the guide rails and the guidemechanism forthe carriage; and

FIGURE 12 is a plan view illustrating the grooves formed in a work panelby employing the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral Iii generallydesignates the work holder and router carriage of the present inventionwhich includes a framework generally designated by the numeral 12including depending corner legs 14 rigidly supporting transverse rails16 and a plurality of longitudinal rails 18. A work retaining member 20is provided for holding a work panel 22 in place against one corner ofthe device with the work panel 22 being smooth and having grooves formedtherein. The completed work panel 22 is illustrated in FIGURE 12 andincludes longitudinal continuous grooves 24 and transverse intermittentand staggered grooves 26 simulating the mortar joints in a brick wall orthe like.

The longitudinal side rails 18 each includes a pair of inwardly facingchannel shaped members as illustrated in FIGURE 11 and designed bynumeral 19. The channel shaped members 19 are spaced to form a slot 21.The members 19 are rigidly interconnected by box frame 23 which forms abacking for stationary chain 23. The ends of chain 28 are inturned andanchored to the guide rail 18 by a fastening bolt 34 or the like. Thus,the two chains 28 form a positive means for moving the carriage for therouter longitudinally of the framework in a positive and direct mannerin which the chains 28 are completely stationary.

Movably mounted on the framework is a transversely extending carriageassembly generally designated by the numeral 32 which includes aplurality of transversely extending angle iron members 34, 36 and 38which rigidly interconnect side members 40. The side members 4d are inthe nature of built-up I-beams and are slidably received on the sideguides or guide rails 18. Journaled on and extending between the sidemembers 40 is an elongated shaft 42 carried by bearing blocks 44 or thelike and each end of the shaft 42 is provided with a sprocket gear 46engaged with and meshing with the chain 2%. Thus, by rotation of theshaft 42, the entire carriage 32 may be moved longitudinally of the sideguide rails 18. One end of the shaft 42 is provided with an elongatedT-handle 43 for purposes of rotating the shaft 4-2 about itslongitudinal axis.

The transverse members 36 and 38 form a guide for a transversely movablecarriage generally designated by the numeral 5% which moves laterally ofthe frame. The ends of the transverse member 38 are provided withchannel shaped supporting brackets 52 each carrying a longitudinal shaft54 on hearing blocks 56. The shaft 54 is rotatably received in thebearing blocks 56 and one of the shafts 54 has a handle 58 attachedthereto for rotation thereof. Each of the shafts 54 is provided with asprocket gear 60 thereon with the sprocket gears 6t being in alignmentwith each other and generally overlying the horizontal flange of theguide rail 38. An endless sprocket chain 62 encircles the sprocket gear60 and, by rotation of the handle 53, the sprocket chain 62 may be movedin a conventional manner of a sprocket chain. If desired, the bearingblocks 56 may be adjustable for varying the tension on the chain 62 andalso, the handle 58 may be detachable and attached to either of theshafts 54 for operation from either side and this is also true of theT-handle 48 which may be attached to either end of shaft 42.

The carriage 50 is specifically illustrated in FIGURES -8 and includes asled or bottom plate 64 slidably received on the horizontal flanges ofthe transverse members 38 and 36. The bottom plate 64 includes adepending guide plate 66 received between the edges of the horizontalflanges of members 36 and 38 for further guiding the movement of therouter carriage and also providing a depth control for the router tool.

The plate 64 is provided with a carrier plate 63 hingedly attached toone end thereof by hinge means 70. Mounted on the plate 63 is a routermotor 72 including a depending router tool 74 for operation in the usualmanner. The router motor 72 may be of the normally portable type havinga handle 76 and a control switch 78 associated therewith. The routermotor 72 is retained on the plate 68 by a peripheral flange 80 and screwthreaded fasteners 82.

Attached to the plate 64 remote from the hinge 70 is a pair ofupstanding spaced mounting plates 84 forming the legs of the U-shapedmember 85 for journaling a shaft 86 therein. The plates 84 areinterconnected by a bearing sleeve 88 and one end of the shaft 86 isprovided with a circular plate 90 having a pair of diametrically opposedholes 92 thereon for connection with a bracket 94 having a connectingrod or link 96 adjustably connected thereto by virtue of a screwthreaded nut 98. The other end of the rod 96 is engaged with a bracket100 attached to the plate 68 as by welding 102 or the like. Thus, byrotating the shaft 86, the plate 68 will be caused to oscillate aboutthe hinge 70 thus raising and lowering the router 72 for rendering therouter effective when in engagement with the work panel 22 andineffective when out of e11- gagement with the panel 22 thus forming theintermittent grooves 26.

The shaft 86 is driven by a sprocket gear 104 rigidly afiixed theretowhich has the bottom edge thereof engaging with and meshing with the toprun of the endless chain 62. Mounted on the surface of the plate 84adjacent the sprocket gear 104 is a shelf or ledge member 106 secured inplace by bolts 108 which prevents sagging of the chain away from thesprocket gear 104 thus assuring rotation of the sprocket gear 104 androtation of the shaft 86, the plate 90 and oscillation of the plate 68thus assuring alternating elevation and lowering of the router 72 whenhandle 58 is rotated.

The lower run of the endless chain 62 is attached to the plate 64 by abracket 110 or the like thus assuring movement of the plate 64 and thecarriage 50 in response to linear movement of the chain 62. As the lowerrun of the chain 62 moves in one direction thus carrying the carriage 50in that direction, the upper run of the chain 62 will be moving in theother direction thus causing rotation of the sprocket gear 104 and shaft86 for rotation of the plate 90 having the eccentrically connectedconnecting rod 596 attached thereto.

Means is provided for locking the movable carriage 32 in positionincluding spring loaded plungers 112 mounted on the side members 40 withthe plungers having handles 114 connected therewith and being slidablyreceived in cylindrical housings 116. The plungers 112 are provided withpistons 118 integral therewith and a spring 120 urges the plungersdownwardly into engagement with openings provided in the guide rail forlocking the carriage 32 in longitudinally adjusted relation to theframework thus enabling adjustment of and locking of the carriage 32 inlongitudinally adjusted positions while the intermittently effectivecarriage 50 is moved transversely of the work panel.

When it is desired to form continuous grooves such as the longitudinalgrooves 24, the panel may be orientated so that the grooves 24 extendtransversely and by disconnecting the connecting rod 96, the router willform a continuous groove.

The carriage 32 may be completely removed from the end of the guiderails 18 is desired for replacement with other types of carriages suchas a continuous type of carriage which may be relatively simple inconstruction since it need only have a supporting plate guided by themembers 36 and 38 and an endless chain attached to the continuous typeof carriage. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for supplyingelectrical energy to the router such as an electrical cord suspendedfrom an overhead support or otherwise provided to enable lateralmovement thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to th exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A router carriage for forming grooves on panel type workpiecescomprising a supporting framework including parallel guide railsdisposed at the sides of the framework, a transversely extendingcarriage movably mounted on the framework and supported by the guiderails, means interconnecting the transverse carriage and the guide railsfor moving and guiding the transverse carriage longitudinally of theguide rails, a transversely movable carriage mounted on the transversecarriage, a router mounted on the transversely movable carriage, andmeans mounted on the transversely extending carriage and engaged withthe transversely movable carriage for moving the transversely movablecarriage transversely of the framework and the workpiece mounted thereonfor forming grooves in the workpiece, said means interconnecting thetransversely extending carriage and the guide rails including anelongated chain disposed on each guide rail, means anchoring the ends ofthe chains to the guide rails to prevent longitudinal movement thereof,an elongated transversely extending shaft rotatably mounted on thetransverse carriage, a pair of sprocket gears on said shaft in meshingengagement with the top surface of the chains, and means on one end ofthe shaft for rotating the shaft thus moving the transversely extendingcarriage longitudinally of the guide rails.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansinterconnecting the transversely extending carriage and the transverselymovable carriage includes an endless chain mounted on the transverselyextending carriage, means for driving said endless chain, and meansconnecting the endless chain to the transversely movable carriage.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said transverselyextending carriage includes spring loaded plungers for locking thecarriage to the longitudinal guide rails.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said transversely movablecarriage includes a bottom plate, guide means on the transverselyextending carriage slidably receiving the bottom plate, a carrier platepivotally attached to one end of said bottom plate for oscillatorymovement about an axis disposed longitudinally of the frame rails, saidrouter being mounted on the pivotal carrier plate, and meansinterconnecting the bottom plate and the pivoted carrier plate forelevating and lowering the pivoted carrier plate, said means beingdrivingly connected with said endless chain.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said meansinterconnecting the bottom plate and the pivoted carrier plate includesan upstanding plate on the bottom plate, a shaft journaled thereon, acircular plate mounted on one end of the shaft, and a connecting rodpivotally interconnecting the carrier plate and the circular plate andbeing eccentrically attached to the circular plate for raising andlowering the carrier plate upon rotation of the shaft, and a sprocketgear on the other end of the shaft in meshing engagement with theendless chain for causing rotation of the shaft during relative movementbetween the chain and the gear.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless chain hasthe lower run thereof attached to the bottom plate for moving the bottomplate, the upper run thereof being in meshed relation with the gear onthe shaft thereby rotating the gear at the same time as the endlesschain moves the bottom plate thus providing intermittent cuttingengagement of the router tool with the work piece.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said gear on the end ofthe shaft engages the top surface of the top run of the endless chain,and a ledge member underlying the top run of the chain for retaining thechain against the gear.

References Iitcd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,958,203 Pfau May 8, 1934 2,159,282 Marino May 23, 1939 2,617,321Faussner Nov. 11, 1952 2,663,337 Borel Dec. 22, 1953 2,789,598 BergerApr. 23, 1957 2,856,973 Horton Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 563,572Germany Apr. 8, 1933 1,020,097 France Nov. 12, 1952

